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I wanted to make this fluffier but I don't think KibaTema is developed enough as a couple to be as fluffy as I'd like them to be. And with the way things are going now, this fic is probably going to end in the next eight chapters, with no chance for KibaTema to develop.
So I'd like to hear from my lovely reviewers: Would anyone be interested in a KibaTema fic?
(Also... can we just talk about how yummy Kiba looks in The Last movie designs? DAT GOATEE)
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My Boss The Genius
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INTERLUDE TWELVE
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Well, he could have picked a better place, Kiba thought. He saw the grimace that flickered through Temari's face after sipping her coffee. The café was a little hole-in-the-wall, and Kiba had figured that little shops were usually dependable for good coffee, but apparently that wasn't the case today. Part of him thought it didn't matter if he picked a shitty place to have coffee; it was just coffee. But his wolf-like eyes watched the blonde across from him wrinkle her nose at the bland drink in front of her, and he wished he checked the reviews of this place on his phone before unceremoniously dragging her into it.
She wasn't wearing her usual conservative, frumpy business clothing, but it was a goddamn Saturday, the hell did he expect? The only reason he had to spend a half-day at the office was because Neji was a slave-driver, hence being dressed in his regular black suit and tie. But he liked the way she looked today, he thought, even if it wasn't his usual type of girl. The girls he tended to look at were more like Ino, feminine and sexy, with a confident gait. Black skinny jeans and converse weren't exactly feminine, but she didn't need to wear heels for Kiba to notice how long and gorgeous her legs were.
And Temari was definitely confident, Kiba thought. But not in the way he was used to. Confidence in girls like Ino usually related back to how good-looking they were; Temari's confidence centred completely on her assurance that she could kick your ass. And Kiba found it hotter than anything he'd ever come across before.
"You didn't have to pay for mine," Kiba told her, and she looked at him coolly as she brought the disposable cup to her lips again.
"Last time was your treat; this time it's mine."
Kiba grinned and took a gulp of his own coffee. She was definitely a firecracker. Shino would disagree with him, stating that Ino was the epitome of a firecracker, but Kiba knew. There were different kinds of firecrackers. Ino was the quick one; you lit her and she sparked immediately. The sparks weren't powerful, but they lasted a while before going out. Temari didn't spark right away, but when she did it was with a huge explosion of light and sound, and it ended almost as quickly as it started.
The silence stretched on, interspersed with sips of bad coffee and the rustling of napkins after Kiba accidentally spilled a bit of his drink. Kiba could see the barista eyeing them curiously, no doubt wondering about their relationship. Lovers who were just about to break up? Perhaps a blind date set up by a mutual friend? Kiba just ran his hand along his goatee and cleared his throat awkwardly.
Maybe this was a mistake, he thought. There was just something that compelled him to reach for her when he saw her step into the sun. He recognized the line of loneliness along her shoulders, and it drew him to her. He'd never lie to himself; he was interested in her. Not in the way that he was interested in Hinata, but he felt like they were kindred souls. Maybe they could understand each other, he wondered. But maybe he was wrong.
"I'll drive you home," he said, getting up and grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair. It was raining outside, nothing like the storm from last time, but heavy enough. She had been looking blankly at the table, but her head shot up when he started speaking. He swore he saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes, but chalked it up to his own imagination.
Temari didn't argue as he opened the passenger door for her, and when he climbed into the driver's side, he saw her curiously studying the interior. Kiba didn't have a fancy car like Sasuke did; Akamaru shed everywhere so keeping a clean interior was impossible. His partner wasn't with him today; Akamaru hadn't felt like waking up this morning, so Kiba let him rest while he went to work.
The drive was the same as the coffee shop; silent. It was a bit awkward for him, and he wished his head wasn't drawing such a blank to at least alleviate the awkwardness on her side. She looked out the window as he drove, watching the buildings and the people on the sidewalks. He stopped at a red light and she turned to him suddenly.
"Why did Hinata's sister have to go to school on a Saturday?" she asked. He blinked, a bit surprised by the question. He looked at her through the side of his eyes, grinning when he saw the slight flush of pink on her cheeks.
"Hanabi is going to the same school Hinata and I went to. It specializes in an accelerated program for people who want to work in the US government's intelligence agencies. It's not really a new institution, but it's a really competitive one." Kiba turned a corner and slowed down, recognizing the front of Temari's apartment building. "That was how we all met; me, Shikamaru, Chouji, Naruto—we all went to high school together."
He put his car in park and turned to face Temari. She was staring out the front window, content to sit there for the moment. He was a bit surprised that she wasn't ready to book it out of his car, given the awful awkwardness they both had to endure in the coffee shop and for most of the drive. Kiba scratched his goatee, unsure of what else to say. Temari looked at him.
"That coffee was pretty horrible."
Kiba stared blankly at her, and then started to laugh.